DT Derek Wolfe — Wolfe was plenty busy Sunday night, having played 84 snaps on defense to go with five more on special teams. For the year he’s at just under 85 percent of the defensive snaps, the sixth-highest total on the team and by far the highest among the team’s rookies. He finished with four tackles against the Patriots to go with his second sack of the season. Rushing out of the nickel package, Wolfe sacked Tom Brady for a 3-yard loss in the fourth play of the fourth quarter. Broncos linebacker Von Miller had a sack on the next play.

QB Brock Osweiler — A week after Osweiler took the first NFL regular-season snap of his career to close out the win over the Raiders, he did not appear in the game against the Patriots, but was in uniform as the team’s No. 2 quarterback.

RB Ronnie Hillman — Hillman saw his playing time dip significantly against the Patriots. After a season-high 21 snaps on offense in the win over the Raiders, the rookie running back was in for five plays on offense in New England, as he finished with three carries for nine yards. He also had a four-yard reception in the game. He continues to work as one of the passing-down options in the backfield, but the Broncos want to see him improve in pass protection before using him with more frequency in those situations.

CB Omar Bolden — Bolden has not appeared on defense for the Broncos this season, but he did play 16 plays on special teams against the Patriots. He returned three kickoffs for 61 yards in New England, including a 33-yarder. However, there is a chance Bolden’s work in the return game could be reduced in the near future. The Broncos claimed former Texans wide receiver Trindon Holliday off waivers Thursday and Holliday has experience as both a kickoff and punt returner. Holliday is expected to return punts against the Chargers Monday and he remains a possibility as a kickoff returner as well — he had 10 kickoffs for 194 yards for the Texans this season.

C Philip Blake — He suffered a season-ending thumb injury in practice and has been placed on injured reserve. Blake is now sporting a cast on his surgically-repaired thumb and continues to take part in meetings.

DE Malik Jackson — Jackson played five snaps on defense against the Patriots and finished with one tackle. He like, many of the rotation players on defense, saw their potential playing time dip when the Patriots cranked up their no-huddle offense to a breath-taking pace. The Broncos could not substitute nearly as often as they would have liked on defense, likely costing Jackson some snaps.

LB Danny Trevathan — Trevathan played five snaps on defense when the Broncos went to their dime (six defensive backs) package to go with 15 plays on special teams. He was credited with two tackle assists on defense to go with another on special teams. He will continue to play some in the defense if opposing offenses stick to the current trend and continue to spread the Broncos defense out.

THE REST OF THE ROOKIE CLASS

LS Aaron Brewer — Brewer handled the snaps for three extra points and three punts without an issue.

S Duke Ihenacho — The rookie safety, who was signed as an undrafted free agent following April’s draft, was signed off the practice squad to the Broncos’ active roster just before the Raiders game and he played on special teams against Oakland. He was then a gameday inactive against the Patriots and was waived Thursday when the Broncos signed Holliday to the roster.

LB Steven Johnson — Johnson continues to work as a reserve middle linebacker in practice, but Nate Irving’s return from a concussion has impacted his workload. And after seeing duty on 19 special teams plays against the Raiders, Johnson was a gameday inactive in New England.

DE Jamie Blatnick, C/G Quentin Saulsberry, T Darrion Weems and S Blake Gideon are currently working on the Broncos’ practice squad. Blatnick was in training camp with the Broncos while Saulsberry was once of the Vikings final cuts at the end of the preseason.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.